Weis has his players sweating to a beat

AVANI PATELCHICAGO TRIBUNE

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis turned up the heat at Monday's indoor practice, the better to simulate the sticky, humid conditions the Irish will face for their season opener against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

And the players' discomfort did wonders for Weis' mood.

"I think [that was] probably the best I felt," Weis said after practice.

"Of course, a lot of that had to do with the Yankees winning 2-1," addeding a grinning Weis, referring to New York's victory over the Boston Red Sox.

"We practiced with noise today. We pumped in music when the offense had the ball so they could have some practice with the communication problems with it being loud. The only thing we haven't worked on yet is the silent snap count."

Prince ready to go

With backup running back Travis Thomas having become a starting linebacker, freshman speedster Munir Prince knows his number could be called early and often this season to relieve starter Darius Walker.

He expects to be up to the task.

"When you get here, you kind of question the speed of the game and the power of the game," Prince said. "After taking some hits and seeing the speed, I think I should be pretty good coming in.

"Darius Walker, Brady Quinn, they make you feel like you're part of the team as soon as you step in the huddle.

"So it's not a problem getting acclimated with the team. They make you feel like you're part of it as soon as you put on the jersey."

Jones high on coaches

The coaches have been unrelenting in their demand for proficiency, if not perfection, from their quarterbacks.

Chicago native Demetrius Jones, who starred at quarterback last year at Morgan Park, said that has been the key to his early improvement.

"My development is coming along [well]," he said. "I'm getting great things from the coaches because they really do their jobs. They nitpick. They want to make sure everything [is done right].

"When you're watching tape, it's every little thing . . . `Point your leg this way, then point your leg this way. You didn't follow through here, you didn't do this.' Everything is being corrected, and it's sort of good. Pretty much all you've got to do is follow directions."

Though Jones and fellow freshman Zach Frazer are behind sophomore Evan Sharpley as the backup to Quinn, Weis has said one could supplant Sharpley by demonstrating knowledge and comfort with the system.

Does the highly recruited Jones wonder if he should have chosen a program where he could start immediately? "I'm very happy with the decision I made, academically and athletically, and that has never crossed my mind," he said.

A little help

Weis informed four of his players--senior offensive lineman Dan Chervanick, senior defensive lineman Casey Cullen, senior defensive lineman Travis Leitko and junior long snapper J.J. Jansen--after Monday's practice that they had been given scholarships for 2006-07.